Description
UNGRATEFUL CHILDREN
Book Summary
A profound and moving analysis of the breakdown of family ties from the parents' perspective. Pascual Ortuño addresses, with sensitivity and rigor, the most painful situations that parents can face: from abandonment and contempt to parent-child violence and the consequences of divorce. The work not only denounces the silent suffering of many parents but also invites children to reflect, reminding them that the cycle of life will also turn them into caregivers. A necessary essay that sheds light on a complex and often invisible social reality.
What is it about?
The book explores filial ingratitude through ten chapters that examine concrete cases of family conflict. From children who return home after a divorce to those who, due to addictions or mental disorders, turn coexistence into a living hell. It also analyzes situations such as gender-based violence, the instrumentalization of grandchildren, the abandonment of elderly parents, or children with disabilities. Each chapter combines sociological reflection with testimonials and psychological analysis, offering a complete view of how the most essential bonds are fractured. The author does not judge, but rather seeks to understand the dynamics that lead to estrangement and proposes a call for intergenerational empathy.
Main Themes
- Breakdown of the parent-child bond and its deep-seated causes.
- Parent-child violence and conflicts in coexistence.
- Consequences of divorce on the relationship with children.
- Abandonment and loneliness of parents in old age.
- Drug addiction, mental illness, and their family impact.
- The instrumentalization of grandchildren as a weapon of punishment.
- Reflection on reciprocity and the life cycle between generations.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at parents who have experienced or fear estrangement from their children, as well as psychology, sociology, and social work professionals who work with complex family dynamics. It is also of great use to adult children who wish to understand their parents' pain and reflect on their own attitudes. In general, it will interest any reader concerned about the transformations of the contemporary family and intergenerational conflicts.
What this book provides
- An empathetic and well-founded vision of the parents' perspective in conflict situations, which is usually silenced.
- Conceptual tools to understand the causes of filial estrangement and its manifestations.
- A rigorous analysis of current social phenomena such as adult children returning home or parent-child violence.
- An invitation to personal reflection on affective responsibility and the cycle of care between generations.
- Practical cases and real-life situations that facilitate the reader's identification and understanding.
Technical Data Sheet
- Author: ORTUÑO MUÑOZ, PASCUAL
- Publisher: Ediciones del Azar
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: Literary essays, social issues and processes, sociology of the family and social relationships, welfare systems and social benefits, family and relationships
- Collection: Libros Singulares
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: November 2020
- Number of pages: 240
- Weight: 390 g
Editorial Review
This is a brave and necessary work that addresses a taboo subject in today's society: the pain parents feel in the face of abandonment or the ingratitude of their children. Pascual Ortuño strikes a balance between analytical rigor and narrative sensitivity, offering a text that can be both a comfort to those who suffer and a guide for those who wish to avoid these ruptures. Its structure in thematic chapters allows for flexible reading, and its multidisciplinary approach makes it a useful resource for both the general public and specialists. Recommended for those seeking a more human and less ideological understanding of family conflicts.